Ratcliffe confirmed as ‘potential buyer’ of Man Utd as billionaire eyes ‘long-term ownership’

Lewis Oldham
Ratcliffe wants to buy Man utd

A spokesperson for Sir Jim Ratcliffe has confirmed that the British billionaire would be “interested” in buying Man Utd if the club is put up for sale.

The chief executive of the Ineos chemicals group previously expressed an interest in buying Chelsea before Todd Boehly became their new owner back in May.

Over at Manchester, the Glazer family first purchased a stake in the Red Devils in 2003. They became the majority shareholders towards the end of 2005.


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Their relationship with Manchester United’s fans has soured in recent years particularly. This was worsened when their involvement in the inception of the European Super League was revealed.

United have made a torrid start to the new campaign, losing their first two games of the season against Brighton and Brentford.

They have signed Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen and Tyrell Malacia this summer, but they are now on the back foot looking for new players before the transfer window closes on September 1.

Gary Neville has been enraged more than most by the Glazer ownership. Earlier this month, he urged the owners to “show up and face the music”:

“We can look at the players all you like, but there are that many big things that need to be put right first, they have got to show up and basically face the music.

“Now is the time. They can’t keep hiding in Tampa and thinking that nothing is going to come back to them.”

On Wednesday afternoon, it was reported that three consortiums are ‘circling’ Man Utd with the intention of purchasing the club.

The same report suggested that these consortiums feel that ‘the Glazers would sell the club for $6bn’.

With disgruntlement towards the current owners growing, Ratcliffe has now officially thrown his hat in the ring to take the club off of the Glazer’s hands.

United supporters will no doubt be happy to hear that Ratcliffe is “interested” in securing a “long-term ownership”:

“If the club is for sale, Jim is definitely a potential buyer,” Ratcliffe’s spokesperson told The Times.

“If something like this was possible, we would be interested in talking with a view to long-term ownership.

“This is not about the money that has been spent or not spent. Jim is looking at what can be done now and, knowing how important the club is to the city, it feels like the time is right for a reset.”